Dianthus plant named ‘Red Beauty’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dianthus  plant named ‘Red Beauty’, characterized by its deep red-colored flowers, silver gray-colored foliage, and compact, mounded, and low growing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Dianthus gratianopolitanus.

Variety denomination: ‘Red Beauty’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant botanically known as Dianthus gratianopolitanus and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Red Beauty’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled environment in Rougemont, N.C. during April 2007. The new Dianthus cultivar is a naturally occurring sport of Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’, not patented, characterized by its bright magenta-colored flowers, silver gray-colored foliage, and compact, mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant and selected during April 2007 in a controlled environment at Rougemont, N.C.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2007 at Rougemont, N.C. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Red Beauty’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant:

-   -   1. Deep red-colored flowers;     -   2. Silver-gray-colored foliage; and     -   3. Compact, mounded and low growing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in flower color and leaf width.

Of the many commercially available Dianthus cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is the parent ‘Firewitch’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Firewitch’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Firewitch’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a larger flower diameter than         plants of ‘Firewitch’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Red Beauty’. The plants were grown in quart-size pots for approximately one year in a poly-covered coldframe at Rougemont, N.C.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Red Beauty’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Red Beauty’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Apr. 18, 2008 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a poly-covered coldframe under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Rougemont, N.C. in quart-size pots for approximately one year utilizing a soilless growth medium. During this time greenhouse temperatures ranged from highs of approximately 60° F. to 70° F. (15° C. to 21° C.) and lows of approximately 45° F. to 49° F. (7° C. to 9° C.). The plants were dormant during winter months with an average greenhouse temperature of 50° F. (10° C.) during the day and an average of 40° F. (5° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 7,500 footcandles to 8,500 footcandles were typical during sunny days. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus gratianopolitanus cultivar ‘Red     Beauty’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parent.—‘Firewitch’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 14 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 28 to 30             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 12 to 14 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a quart-sized pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact, mounded and             low-growing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 18.0 cm. Width: Approximately 12.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal             branching. Quantity of flowering stems per plant:             Approximately 13.         -   Flowering stem.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately             14.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.5 cm. Length of central             internode: Approximately 2.5 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of             young and mature stems: Glaucous, 147A with the waxy bloom             imparting an overall tonality of more blue than 188A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per flowering stem:             Approximately 12. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Linear. Margin:             Entire with ciliation. Apex: Acute. Base: Sessile,             decurrent. Venation pattern: Parallel, linear. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 3.7 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young and mature             foliage: Glaucous, 147A with the waxy bloom imparting an             overall tonality of more blue than 188A. Venation is             indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young and             mature foliage: Glaucous, lighter than 147A with the waxy             bloom imparting an overall tonality of more blue than 188A.             Venation is indistinguishable. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Red Beauty’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 7 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform, persistent.             Quantity per plant: Approximately 10. Fragrance: Spicy,             clove-like.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 5 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: 3.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length:             Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: Glaucous, 146A with an overlay of             187A at apex.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.2 cm. Depth:             Approximately 3.0 cm.         -   Petals/petaloids.—Quantity: 5 to 7. Shape: Fan-shaped,             tapering toward base. Appearance: Velvety. Margin: Entire             with an erose outer edge. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Length from throat: Approximately 1.4 cm. Width:             Approximately 1.9 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous. Color of             upper surface when first and fully open: Between 61B and 61A             with a ring of darker than 71A surrounding throat opening.             Color of lower surface when first and fully open: Closest to             59C.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter at             proximal end: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at distal end:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of inner surface: Base of 145D transitioning             toward throat opening through a small band of 155D to 70B.             Color of outer surface: Base of 145D transitioning toward             throat opening to 70B.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Sepals fused forming a cylindrical shape with             6 acute tips. Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface: 144A. Color of lower             surface: Glaucous, 146A with an overlay of 187A at apices             and base.         -   Epicalyx.—Quantity: 4 bracts arranged in two pairs. Shape:             Deltoid. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm.             Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of             upper and lower surfaces: Glaucous, 137A with lateral             margins of N187A.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 2.9 cm. Diameter: 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous.             Color: Glaucous, lighter than 147A with the waxy bloom             imparting an overall tonality of more blue than 188A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity:             Approximately 15, connate lower third. Filament length:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Filament color: 155D. Anther shape:             Oblong to malformed. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther color: 161C. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium:             Pistil quantity: 1 per flower, 2-parted style. Pistil             length: Approximately 3.4 cm. Stigma shape: Linear, tapering             down the length of the style, recurved. Stigma/style length:             Approximately 2.4 cm. Stigma color: N79A. Style color: Pure             white at base transitioning at midpoint to white with an             overlay N79B that intensifies toward tip. Ovary length:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Ovary diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Ovary color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Dianthus has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘Red Beauty’, substantially as herein shown and described. 